Cambodia’s casino owners are being reminded not to forget their staff’s needs now that the government has shut down all gaming venues to prevent further COVID-19 spread.

On Thursday, the Khmer Times reported that the Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) was increasingly concerned about the wellbeing of some 20k casino employees who are currently out of work following the government-ordered “temporary closure” of all casinos effective April 1.

In making his announcement on Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said the government would offer casino operators certain tax exemptions to help them deal with the disruption. Hun Sen also told casino owners to ensure they paid out March wages before laying off their staff.

While some casino staff have confirmed receiving their March wages, owners have been tight-lipped regarding whether they feel any obligation to financially assist staff during the enforced layoff. CUMW president Pav Sina expressed concern that staff will quickly find themselves in financial difficulty if the ‘temporary’ closure lasts longer than anticipated.